making the business case for culturally and linguistically appropriate ...

APPENDIX N- GlossaryCLAS standards. The collective set of CLAS mandates, guidelines, and recommendationsissued by the HHS Office of Minority Health intended to inform, guide, and facilitaterequired and recommended practices related to culturally and linguistically appropriate healthservices. (OMH, 2000)Cultural Competence. Having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and anorganization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors and needs presented byconsumers and their communities. (OMH, 2000)Culture. “The thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutionsof racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. Culture defines how health care information isreceived, how rights and protections are exercised, what is considered to be a health problem,how symptoms and concerns about the problem are expressed, who should provide treatmentfor the problem, and what type of treatment should be given. In sum, because health care is acultural construct, arising from beliefs about the nature of disease and the human body,cultural issues are actually central in the delivery of health services treatment and preventiveinterventions. By understanding, valuing, and incorporating the cultural differences ofAmerica’s diverse population and examining one’s own health-related values and beliefs,health care organizations, practitioners, and others can support a health care system thatresponds appropriately to, and directly serves the unique needs of populations whose culturesmay be different from the prevailing culture” (OMH, 2000; Katz, Michael. PersonalCommunication, November 1998).Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services. Health care services that arerespectful of and responsive to cultural and linguistic needs. (OMH, 2000)Interpreter. A person who translates orally from one language to another. (OMH, 2000)Translation. Translation entails transferring ideas written in text from one language (thesource language) to another (the target language). (Planning Culturally and LinguisticallyAppropriate Services: A Guide for Managed Care Plans, CMS, 2000)61